The Transfer Tavern

TT Introduces: Reece Oxford

West Ham supporters in the Transfer Tavern are very much looking forward to the 2018/19 Premier League season following the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the new Hammers manager earlier in the summer.

The Chilean replaces David Moyes in the London Stadium hotseat following the Scot’s departure at the end of last season, this all despite leading the East London outfit to a 13th place finish in the Premier League. However, the club’s hierarchy decided against extending his short-term deal and have instead drafted in former Manchester City chief Pellegrini, who of course led the Citizens to the Premier League title back in 2014.

As such, there are many excited West Ham fans up and down the country, several of whom are intrigued to see who this season’s break-out star could be following the emergence of 19-year-old Declan Rice last time round.

And fellow 19-year-old Reece Oxford could well be the wonderkid to finally make the step up to the Hammers first team this season.

Ultimately, the versatile defender is extremely highly-rated by many but has yet to properly translate that into performances on the pitch, to the point that he only has 17 senior West Ham appearances to his name, just nine of which have been starts.

And with testing loan spells at Championship side Reading and Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in the last few years, some are beginning to wonder whether Oxford is ever going to break-out and become the Hammers first teamer his potential suggests he could be.

But after seeing Rice brilliantly adapt to the rigours of Premier League football last season, in turn winning the club’s young player of the year award for the second straight campaign, it could be time for Oxford to follow in his fellow 19-year-old’s footsteps this time round.

Ultimately, Oxford has bags of potential having already turned out for various England youth teams, while he was also subject of reported interest from Manchester United two years ago to further underline his potential.

And with the capability to play at centre back as well as in a defensive midfield role, the 19-year-old has the versatility that not many others his age can boast – that is a great trait to have when one is trying to break into the senior team.

Thus, with Rice having broken out expertly last season, and now set for a sustained run in the Hammers first team, Oxford could be the man to follow in his footsteps this term by breaking into Pellegrini’s first team.